Hydrocarbon generation and accumulation in salt lakes are a typical petroleum geological phenomenon in the world

especially in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic continental strata of China.In order to advance research in this field

this paper discusses the research progress of Dongpu Sag in the Bohai Bay Basin

eastern China.The hydrocarbon generation and accumulation characteristics of salt-lake source rocks were analyzed through systematic geological and geochemical studies of source rocks and crude oils

providing clues for future regional deployments of exploration.Results show that the typical salt-lake source rocks were developed spatially in the north of the sag

specifically the lower section of the third member(Es

4(U)

) and the upper section of the fourth member(Es

4(U)

) of the Shahejie Formation vertically.Its lithology is shale featuring early hydrocarbon generation and expulsion

with a "double-layered" structure

i.e.the lower layer dominated by organic matters and clay minerals and the upper one dominated by pyrites and calcites.The hydrocarbon accumulation in salt lakes of Dongpu Sag develops along with the growth of both conventional and unconventional petroleum reservoirs.The conventional ones are characterized by "ordered distribution and differential enrichment"

while the deve-lopment of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs is closely related to the organic-rich salt-lake source rocks

reflecting the control of organic-rich salt-lake source rocks on hydrocarbon accumulation.It is recommended that further regional exploration should be focused on the two organic-rich source rock areas

the Es

4(U)

and the Es

4(U)

and exploration of various petroleum reservoirs should be carried out.These understandings are of referential significance for the geological research of oil and gas and the exploration in other saline lacustrine basins.